Morning-After Brunch

Gina Mussio

Friday

Jun 15, 2018 at 12:18 PMJun 18, 2018 at 11:57 AM

Keep the revelry going with a meal the next day.

Your big day has come and gone, and you're ready to start your happily ever after. What better way to do so than surrounded by your family and friends? Close out the wedding weekend with one last moment of celebration: the post-wedding brunch.

Though the send-off tradition isn't necessary, some couples decide to host a morning gathering to feed out-of-town guests before their return home. Many newlyweds find it to be a perfect way to close their big weekend in a calmer atmosphere while thanking those who traveled to be present.

“There's always the stress of seeing everyone the night before, to make the rounds at all the tables,” says bride Sheila Schirripa, who wed Matthew Schirripa on New Year's Eve 2016. They hosted a next-day sendoff at their venue, the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center. “I didn't have to worry [about that] because I knew if we missed someone, we'd see them at breakfast.”

Brunch needn't be another stress for an already busy bride; Columbus has an array of great brunch choices that will handle everything for you. Many couples take advantage of local hotel space to combine guests' overnight needs as well as a buffet breakfast the following morning, as the Schirripas did with their Lewis Center hotel.

With many out-of-town guests and a holiday wedding, Sheila knew she wanted a location that could do it all. Nationwide had the hotel rooms, spaces for the ceremony and reception, an on-site pub for the after-party and a buffet breakfast the following morning. Choosing Nationwide was a “no-brainer,” Sheila says.

“It was really nice to see everybody the next morning as a married couple and spend some time eating breakfast and saying our farewells before people hit the road,” she adds.

The Hilton Columbus Downtown, across from the Greater Columbus Convention Center in the Short North, is another popular all-in-one venue, while restaurants such as Lindey's offer beautiful atmospheres with little stress.

For a more upscale option without too much fuss, head to the Guild House in the Short North. The Cameron Mitchell restaurant is connected to Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, and was recently named by Columbus Monthly (our sister publication) as one of the best restaurants in the city, thanks in part to its brunch offerings.

On the other hand, many couples opt to keep things casual with a catered brunch at the location of their choice, such as a parent's house.